In the Lok Sabha election year, it is likely that Radha Raturi (IAS: 1988: UK) is going to be the next Chief Secretary (CS) of the state as it is almost decided that incumbent CS S S Sandhu (IAS: 1988: UK) will not get extension any further whose extended tenure is ending on 31.01.2024. Raturi was given charge of CS when Sandhu was on leave in December last year.
However, Sandhu is one of the most trusted and competent officers who is known for delivery. Just ahead of Assembly elections, Sandhu was moved from NHAI Chairman to CS Uttarakhand. Radha Raturi is Sandhu’s batchmate.
She has an edge over others on many counts. She is Additional CS to the CM and daughter of the soil. If picked as the CS, she would be the first woman CS in the State which has already seen first woman DGP years back. As CS she would be a value addition in terms of narrative and optics but NaMo-Shah-led BJP doesn’t own it to any such decision for narrative as they are well equipped to deal with the narrative issue.
